By Te Kiriwai Murphy-Fell

Highlights of my exchange

Throughout my exchange I’ve had some amazing experiences that I’ll never forget. But for me, two of my biggest highlights were going to Lake Tahoe and San Diego. One of the best parts of going on an exchange is exploring the surrounding areas, and I’ve been lucky enough to go to some awesome places while I’ve been at Berkeley. Tahoe was unbelievably beautiful in summer, and San Diego has always been on my to do list, so neither of these places disappointed.

Some of my highlights from around campus have probably been going to football games and exploring the area around campus. There are some really cool boutique shopping areas near campus which are always fun to go have a look at. And college football games are a must when at a US school. The atmosphere is so cool to experience.

Challenges I’ve faced while abroad

I wouldn’t say I’ve faced a whole lot of challenges since being here. In fact, if anything everything’s been pretty smooth which I’m extremely grateful for. The only thing I would say that’s been a bit getting used to is not having a car. I have been using the buses, trains and Ubers since I arrived, and/or walking, which hasn’t been that big of an issue, since it’s also a really good way to see the city, but it’s definitely more time-consuming if you’re used to driving yourself around. But as a UC Berkeley student, I’ve been able to use the buses, trains and ferries all for free, since Berkeley students have free public transportation. This has been a huge saving for me since I always planned on taking the bus and train to school each day, so I’ve saved thousands on transport.

What my exchange has taught me

The biggest thing I’ve learnt since coming to America is to be a bit more adaptable to different ways of life. When you only travel somewhere for a short amount of time, you’re able to maintain your normal habits and ways of life, but when you stay in that place for an extended period, you have to learn to adapt your lifestyle a bit to fit in. For example, I’ve had to get used to waiting in long lines for things, which is quite different to the small-town life I’m used to where there’s usually hardly any lines for anything. Or even smaller things like tipping culture and getting used to cars being on the right side of the road instead of the left. All these things add up, so you just have to adapt and learn from those around you.

How I expect my exchange will affect my future

Since starting my exchange, I feel as though I’ve gained a lot more confidence to go out on my own, especially in foreign environments. I’ve always planned on travelling and living overseas for a period of time, so this experience has definitely solidified that plan for me and makes me want to see other parts of the world as well.